Glass Class

Consider the type of glass a cocktail is served in next time you're stumped over what drink to order.

by Johnny Michaels |
April 1, 2012

Lucky for us, local establishments serving great cocktails and possessing outstanding beverage programs seem to be opening up every other month. However, it can be intimidating if you are immediately presented with several menus just as you’re trying to take in the atmosphere and vibe while deciding on a beverage. Sensory overload!

Frequently, guests will want me to make up something for them or ask me what’s my favorite or best drink. I'm kind of like a dating service for people and cocktails, and first I need to know some of their likes and dislikes before I can suggest a cocktail with confidence. It’s obvious to start with what type of base spirit the drinker might be in the mood for, followed by whether they like fruity, dry, or bittered cocktails. But I’ve found one of the most overlooked yet most important factors to consider is the type of vessel, or glass, from which they imagine drinking.

Sometimes you can see people’s light bulbs go off. If they were thinking about something served in a martini glass, that fact eliminates all cocktails served in any other kind of glass. In summer, for instance, people will go for drinks in a tall Collins glass because they’re thirstier than other times of the year, and they want a cocktail they can DRINK, not sip.

So the next time you find yourself stumped over what cocktail to order, think about the type of glass it’s served in along with the other factors. I bet you’ll find the glass turns out to be just as important as the rest of it.